CSJ accuses FG, NASS of ‘fiscal rascality’ over budget implementation

The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) has accused the Executive and the National Assembly of conspiring to deny Nigerians infrastructure and public services by failing to implement the 2025 and 2026 capital budgets.

It called on officials who contributed to the situation to consider resigning.

In a statement signed by its Lead Director, Eze Onyekpere, the group described the situation as “unconstitutional, unconscionable and illegitimate.”

The statement followed the National Assembly’s approval, at the Executive’s request, of an extension of the 2025 capital budget implementation period to December 2026.

CSJ noted that the 2024 and 2023 capital budgets were also extended.

According to the group, only 30 per cent of the 2025 capital vote is being extended.

It said new capital projects were prohibited, and Ministries, Departments and Agencies were directed to roll over 70 per cent of the 2025 capital vote, which formed the foundation of the 2026 capital vote.

CSJ said there is no word on the implementation of the 2026 capital budget.

It added that the 2027-2029 Medium Term Expenditure Framework, which underpins the 2027 Appropriation Bill, has not been prepared and laid before the National Assembly.

The group said this contradicts President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2026 Budget Speech, in which he directed the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, the Accountant General of the Federation and the Director-General of the Budget Office to implement the budget strictly according to appropriated details and timelines.

CSJ stressed that the capital budget funds ammunition and equipment for security forces fighting insurgency, as well as schools, hospitals, roads, bridges, electricity, agriculture and water resources.

It said the President himself acknowledged in the budget speech that jobs and enterprises cannot scale without infrastructure.

The group accused officials of drawing down and even exceeding their own entitlements and perks while neglecting the people.

It also faulted the National Assembly for abdicating its oversight role, asking, “when salt loses its saltiness, what exactly is its worth?”

CSJ said it wrote an open letter on September 10, 2026 to the Minister of Finance, the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, but has received no response.

The group demanded an apology from the President, the Senate President, the Speaker, the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, along with “guarantees of non-repetition.”